Arsene Wenger ties up £8.5m Nacho Monreal deal

Monreal is ineligible for the Champions League as he is cup-tied, which means Santos is still be likely to face Bayern Munich later this month.

The transfer was originally thought to be lined up for the summer, but was rushed through following Kieran Gibbs’ thigh injury, suffered in the 2-2 with Liverpool, and the poor form of Brazilian Andre Santos.

Monreal, 26, has started 14 of Malaga’s 21 games in La Liga this season, and taken his tally of caps for Spain to nine.

But he is ineligible for the Champions League as he is cup-tied, which means Santos is still be likely to face Bayern Munich later this month.